[video] the road that ended

[sassguard]

[ For those familiar with his face, Shepard seems ... younger, somehow. Not by much, but there are fewer lines creasing his forehead and the corners of his eyes. His posture's slightly different, too, shoulders squared and spine straight even as he almost hums with alertness. ]

I'm Commander Shepard. I've been told I've been here before, but apparently I'm missing a few things. I don't recognize most of the faces on this network.

[ His voice is scratchy, hoarse from use -- or lack of it? He's had the time to go through his communicator record -- lucky it wasn't locked -- and what he's seen has mostly added to his growing confusion. Although he conceals it well, the frustration with the inability to understand what's happening grates on him. ]

Am I the only one having issues with memory loss? Is this something that happens a lot here?

Comments

[kanadian]

What? I'm not going to be an ass to Shepard. He pretty much just died.

Anyway, are you sure? I mean, I hate to impose... [ A pause. ] The couch isn't that good, though.

[ Jaime would know. That couch is like. A loveseat. ]

[khajidont]

Wait, hold up -- what do you mean died?

[Isn't that a little over dramatic for a guy who just seems to have lost his memory?]

Is that the sort of thing you should be telling me about in person?

[kanadian]

Er --

Yeah. Probably.

Where do you wanna get dinner at?

[khajidont]

[A part of Jaime wants to say that they'll just get a ton of take-out, so he can hear what Kaidan has to say in relative silence, but... no, it'll be good for him to go out, won't it?]

I think I know a place. And you have to head home after work anyway, right? To pick up some of your stuff? At least a change of clothes. I have a toothbrush you can use, though.

[And floss. And toothpaste. He's got it all, when it comes to dental care.]

I'll swing by your place and we can go from there.

[kanadian]

You have an extra toothbrush?

[ A pause. ]

Okay. Uh -- Shepard might be home. If you get there before I do, just, ah, be gentle, okay? I know I don't have to tell you, but...

But, I appreciate it, Jaime.

[khajidont]

I have lots of extra toothbrushes! They just -- they come in handy, okay?

[He has a lot of visitors, and it's very important to him that they can brush their teeth when they stay over.]

Anyway, don't worry. You know I've done this before, right? I'll be nice. Shepard's my friend too.

[kanadian]

Jaime, do you get a lot of houseguests?

[ He does not know about Jaime's dentist dreams. Right now he's thinking you're pretty weird. ]

And yeah, I know, I'm just --

I'm worried.

---> a log, or?

[khajidont]

Yeah, people sleep over all the time. [Look, it's both houseguests and dentist aspirations! He's a multifaceted guy!] And I know you are. You couldn't not be worried, but... you know this is probably temporary, right? He didn't wake up next to the Porter. That's a good thing.

UM YES....

[kanadian]

Yeah, I know. It's probably going to last a week at most, but...

That doesn't mean it doesn't hurt, and he didn't -- ah, he didn't even realize we were...

I WILL SET ONE UP LATER TODAY so we don't just action all over kytha's post, hahah

[khajidont]

Yeah, that's... rough. But he will. And he'll remember why, too. Even if this was permanent, he'd remember that eventually, but here's hoping to it not taking that long.

[Shepard and Kaidan are so solid together. It's hard, now, for him to imagine either of them with anyone else which means playing Mass Effect would be very difficult for him; Shepard, you ho.]

Have you told him yet? That you two are together? I mean, he must have figured it out by now.

SOUNDS GOOD I AM PATIENT

[kanadian]

Yeah.

He, ah, thought he was some kind of pervert at first. I didn't have the heart to leave him with that delusion.

[ He honestly loves him too much for that. Obviously. ] And yeah, I'm sure...it'll be okay. Eventually. [ He isn't sure, actually. ]

[khajidont]

...he thought he was a pervert for sleeping with you?

[He doesn't mean to say it like that, but he just sort of blurts it out anyway. How the hell would Shep come to that conclusion? He would think 'boyfriend' would be obvious, what with the whole one-bed-sharing-an-apartment business. Mostly the one bed bit.]

[kanadian]

No, he -- didn't think anything of that.

[ His voice starts to dip. In shame. ] He -- ah -- it's not exactly --

[ Kaidan is getting red. He never gets red, but he's getting red now. ] Don't worry about it.

[khajidont]

Kaidan, it's not that embarrassing! You live together, [Jaime says, as if they're not discussing poor Kaidan's sex life.]

Look, you, uh -- finish work. I'll be at your place once you're done. Deal?

[kanadian]

Yeah, ah, sounds good. I'll see you then.